Thursday, February 1, 2007 Older Editions

LETTERS

Youth seek support for centrally located Doherty site

Editor, Townsman:

The Youth Action Council is a group that advocates for the youth of Andover. Over the past months, the Youth Action Council has been conducting extensive work and studies to find the best suitable site for a proposed youth center in Andover. After determining the West Andover site to be many years away from safe development, we have come to the conclusion that the site behind Doherty Middle School will best serve the needs of the youth in our community. Doherty is located closer to the center of town, two-thirds of middle school students are within walking distance of the site, and it is a much safer location. Articles will be submitted for Town Meeting asking citizens to make the change of location to Doherty.

In 1995, when the youth center lost by 63 votes, the town's leaders told Andover Youth Services to build a program and then come back and ask for a center. More than a decade later, AYS has built a phenomenal array of programs and services without a building. Building a youth center will allow programs to serve a broader range of youth, offer enriching programs in the areas of recreation, education, social and support services, and serve as a symbol of Andover's commitment to its young people and their development as valued members of the community. AYS have fulfilled its part of the bargain, and now it is time to further invest in the future of our youth.

For the youth center to become a reality, it needs the support of the citizens of Andover. If we act now, the completion of the youth center is in the near future. The Youth Action Council will continue to work with town officials, neighbors and anyone who is interested in helping us achieve our goal to build a place for the youth. The place is right, the cause is right, the time for action is now.

Tali McCabe

8 Heather Drive

Mark Irvine

283 North Main St.

Youth Action Council

Decrease spending with regional school solutions, cuts

Editor, Townsman:

I thought Don Robb's letter to the paper on school spending was well done ("School spending, requests must be presented clearly," Jan. 11). I agree it is time to get the money back to the school principals, the staff and the children.

Recently, our governor committed to increasing state aid to our schools, which will allow the School Committee to present a budget to the town without increasing taxes if the School Committee holds the administration accountable for budget decisions that are within the allocated resources the town and state can spend on education without increasing taxes. I also want to commend School Committee member Deb Silberman for trying to lower the price for all-day kindergarten and advising the administration that her view is that all-day kindergarten is not a option.

Regarding our schools that are asking for the technology, there is no reason that they are not able to put those costs in the regular budget. I support this purchase or lease but let's not start the warrant-article game, which is nothing more than another way to increase taxes to the town of Andover. There are plenty of accounts in the school budget where one can allocate these resources.

Our governor has called for regional administration of shared costs. Seeing that the director of pupil administration is retiring, this is a ideal time to work with Greater Lawrence Special Education collaborative or Melmark on River Road or Greater Lawrence Technical School or North Andover in sharing these services. There is no reason to not explore these options. I would suggest the School Committee look at the BOECS Model in New York where school regions and districts share administrative services and costs and make a concentrated effort to make sure more resources are sent back to schools.

At the same time, with our Sanborn principal retiring, the School Committee should look to eliminate the assistant superintendent of schools position and allocate resources to the Sanborn School. This one move would save close to $130,000 in the school budget and cut down on administrative overhead. I encourage our community to zero in on administrative costs of running our schools and time management so that we are ensured our individual schools get most of the resources and we do not increase property taxes any more. It is time for creative thinking and new ideas on our School Committee.

Robert G. Coffill Jr.

7 Quail Run

Town manager: Accessible and capable CEO

Editor, Townsman:

I read with interest your recent story about the selectmen's performance review of Town Manager Buzz Stapczynski. My experience as a longtime resident of Andover would fully support the positive findings of the Board of Selectmen. In particular I would like to cite favorable resolutions to two mundane matters I contacted Stapczynski about. It impressed me that in both instances he was easy to reach, responsive and followed up to be certain the matters were handled as my wife and I had requested.

It is very unusual that someone with the capacity to run the complicated business of a town as large as Andover still has the willingness to deal with ordinary citizens such as my wife and me. We are indeed fortunate to have Stapczynski as our chief executive.

George J. Fantini Jr.

30 Cutler Road

Vote of support for Samuels

Editor, Townsman:

We are writing this letter to endorse David Samuels for town moderator. We support his candidacy with great confidence that he is a highly qualified person to meet the demands of this position. Having witnessed first-hand Samuels' ability to command respect in a heated situation, we know that he possesses those qualities and abilities necessary to serve as a town moderator. For those of you who may not be familiar with Samuels' qualifications, he is a renowned and respected periodontist in Andover. He is a leader of the Massachusetts Dental Society and the American Dental Association. He has served on the Andover School Committee with tremendous dedication and energy. The position of town moderator requires an individual who is able to be fair and impartial, who can listen to all sides of an issue, and who can encourage communication, all for the betterment of our town. Samuels has already demonstrated these qualities through his position on the School Committee. These are the same qualities that have made him a leader in his professional life. Andover needs an individual with this degree of energy, thoughtfulness and leadership in the position of town moderator. Andover needs David Samuels.

Vicki and Ed Jacobs

5 Dawn Circle